Personal Best // Playlist

Bristol/Brighton/Portsmouth four-piece Personal Best make pop-punk that’s coated in nostalgia and so far have put out a full-length, 2015’s Arnos Value, and an EP, 2014’s The Lovin’. Now fresh from touring with Mitski, they play a free show at The Old Blue Last next week alongside The Winter Passing and The New Tusk.

They’ve compiled a playlist of a few of their favourite songs to prepare, so dig in, there’s some real good ones here.

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PWR BTTM – ‘Big Beautiful Day’ A huge, gorgeous, and ultimately kind fuck you to anyone who tried to shame you or dictate your identity.

Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘Run Away With Me’ I ❤ CRJ. Pretty much perfect pop song and songs about crushes are my favourite.

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Grand-Pop – ‘Nervous Nelly’ It was really hard to choose a track from our label buddies GP’s new album ‘Eight Nights’ out now on Specialist Subject Records. They’re all too good.

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Chance the Rapper – ‘Same Drugs’ I listened to Colouring Book a lot on the Mitski tour, it’s just so upbeat and Summery. His lyrics are amazing too.

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The Bangles – Eternal Flame This song is a perfect ballad. And it features the biggest snare sound of all time. Those of us who grew up in the 80’s or 90’s know this song too well.

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Meat Loaf feat. Cher – Dead Ringer For Love Rock n roll and brew? I’ll take it (minus the brew). Cher really steals the show from Meatloaf on this one. Plus there’s a great horn section ska breakdown for the ska fans. A karaoke classic for us.

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Chvrches (feat. Hayley Williams) – Bury It Seeing Chvrches live is an amazing experience. This song captures it. Plus it features Hayley Williams. They’ve got such a huge sound. Also check out TYCI (tuck your cunt in), which Chvrches Lauren Mayberry founded, for great zines and podcasts.

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Pale Kids – Prayer List Durham city punk rockers sound smashing on this EP. It’d be a sin to miss them if they play a gig near you. Absolute gems. Comes with a reminder that if you’re heartbroken, you’re probably gonna be boring for a while.

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Joan Armatrading – Drop the Pilot Perfect, perfect pop rock song. Her voice is immediately recognisable and this melody is just glorious. She’s one of those songwriters who writes music that sounds like it always should have existed.